Told from the evocative but terse perspective of an unnamed, middle-aged actress, Katie Kitamura’s latest novel “Audition” interrogates the performative and indefinite aspects of interpersonal relationships and identity. “Audition” was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize, and Kitamura came to speak at both the UCLA Grace M. Hunt…
Liu’s Cafe in Westwood saw massive success during its opening back in February. What is the experience like a month later?
Contemporary Western society establishes that marriage and love are synonymous terms — marriage is thought to be a tangible representation of love. In the collection of short stories “Unaccustomed Earth”, Jhumpa Lahiri uses thoughtful explorations of parental and romantic connections to explore the complexities that exist in relationships,…
Steph Cha’s “Your House Will Pay” is an incredible storytelling feat on heavy topics regarding tensions between African American and Korean American communities in relation to the tragedy of the 1992 Los Angeles Race Riots. The story is focused around two individuals, with the perspective switching back and…
“Convenience Store Woman” by Sayaka Murata challenges society’s insistence upon normalcy. The novel follows Keiko Furukura, a 36-year-old convenience store worker, who struggles to conform to the vocational expectations of her family, friends, and modern Japanese society. Written from the first-person perspective, the book prompts readers to reevaluate…
The newly released “Madwoman” music video by Laufey is gaining attention, not only for its cinematic visuals but also for its powerful representation of “Wasians” (mixed-race white and Asian individuals) in mainstream media. Released on April 13, 2026, the retro-inspired video features a stellar cast, including Olympic figure…